The investigation into an air crash in which two friends were killed in East Yorkshire has been concluded.

Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) were looking into the circumstances of the accident which resulted in the deaths of Richard Lewis, 76, and Tony Cook, 79, just a mile from their destination at Beverley Airfield near Leven last October.

The men, who were both from Burton Pidsea, died at the scene from multiple injuries after the crash, which happened late on the evening of October 10.

East Yorkshire farmers, Humberside Fire and Rescue, Humberside Police, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and HM Coastguard joined in the search for the plane, which was discovered in a farmer's field near the Beverley Airfield landing strip.

Tony Cook (left) and Richard Lewis as they set off from the Scottish Borders on October 10

As with all air accidents, the AAIB took up the case of the single-engine Reims Cessna F172N and its two passengers and were seen gathering evidence at the scene from the morning after the crash.

The plane was then taken to their specialist facility in Farnborough where investigations have taken several months.

Although investigations can take up to a year to complete, the work around the East Yorkshire crash has already progressed to the "consultation stage" which means the final report on exactly what happened is close to being released.

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Confirming the progress of the investigation, a spokeswoman for the Air Accidents Investigation Branch said: “The investigation is in the formal consultation stage. A report will be published in due course.”

The AAIB has concluded its analysis and have drawn its conclusions of what happened but are now in the phase of preparing the report and notifying those affected by the crash, according to its website.

The scene of the crash at Wilfholme (Image: Peter Harbour)

Explaining the next phase of the process it says: "When we have analysed the evidence, drawn conclusions and are making safety recommendations, a draft report goes through several stages of internal review within the AAIB.

"We are then required to issue a confidential draft report to those states that have been involved in the investigation and also those whose reputation may be affected by our report.

"Under the UK regulations this consultation lasts for 28 days. Representations made by those consulted are given due consideration before the publication of the final report."

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